Expansion joint filler



Oct. 3, 1967 E. c. HALLocK EXPANSION JOINT FILLER .2 sheets-sheet 1 Filed July 7, 1966 FIGLI.

INVENTOR EDWARD C. HALLOCK BY :VMLMOM (M His ATTORNEYS l E. C. HALLOCK EXPANSION JOINT FILLER 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR EDWARD C. HALLOCK HIS ATTORN EYS Oct. 3, 1967 Filed July 7, 1966 .Ooi

United States Patent fice 3,344,720 Patented oet. 3, 1967 3,344,720 EXPANSION JOINT FILLER Edward C. Hallock, 86 Woodland Ave., Summit, NJ. 07901 Filed July 7, 1966, Ser. No. 563,507 5 Claims. (Cl. 94-18) ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE The expansion joint disclosed herein comprises a pair of frame members which can be attached to structural elements on opposite sides of a joint or gap therebetween one of the frame elements having an angular groove in which a ange on the edge of a bridge strip is detachably received, the other edge of the bridge strip being slidably received in a slot formed in the other frame member so that expansion and contraction of the joint enables sliding of the bridge strip in the slot while maintaining the joint covered and supporting a resilient filler member substantially iiush with the surfaces of the structural elements.

This is a continuation-in-part of my United States application Ser. No. 396,945, tiled Sept. 16, 1964, now abandoned.

This invention relates to construction expansion joints and, more particularly, to a novel and improved filler for the exterior exposed portion of an expansion joint provided between oor members, wall members, or similar structure elements.

In the construction of most relatively large buildings, separations between elements of the structure are provided to enable expansion and contraction of sections of the building. Often, such expansion joints occur in floors and walls of the building and require a cover or filler for the joint or crack for obvious esthetic reasons. Conventional joint covers usually include .a cover plate element which is suitably anchored to an edge of one of the spacedapart structure elements and rests on the other structure element, the cover plate generally being several inches in width and running the entire length of the joint. Thus, the cover plate, even though it may be of a relatively attractive material such as aluminum or bronze, nevertheless forms a substantial disruption in the exposed surface and significantly detracts from the appearance of the wall or floor. Moreover, many known types of joint covers or iillers are relatively expensive and are diicult to install.

In accordance with the present invention, a joint filler is provided in which only a resiliently compressible filler strip approximately the Width of the joint is exposed on the surface of the structural elements, thus providing only a slight disruption in that surface and therefore being more attractive than conventional forms of joint fillers or covers. The joint filler of the invention is particularly well suited for Walls or oors having surface coverings such as plaster, terrazzo, oor tile, carpeting or the like over the structural wall or floor elements. Additionally, it may be manufactured at relatively low cost, preferably being constituted entirely by elements which are extruded from plastic or from a suitable metal such as bronze or aluminum. The structure of the joint cover is such that it is easily and quickly installed.

More particularly, the construction joint filler, in accordance with the invention, comprises a frame member secured along each of the structure elements, the frame members including body portions which are spaced from the external surfaces of t-he structure elements such as a covering material, for example, plaster, terrazzo or floor tile or the like. The frame members are preferably secured to the structure elements by anchor clips which .are in turn attached by clamping fasteners to spaced inturned ribs on the body portions, the ribs being provided on the inner faces of flanges on a body portion which is generally U-shaped in cross section.

One of the frame members has a deep slot extending the entire length of the member and lying in a plane substantially parallel to the direction of relative movement between the structural elements upon expansion and contraction. A bridge strip is secured at one edge to the other frame member, and the other edge of the bridge strip is slidably received in the deep slot. The edge of the bridge strip which is secured to the frame member includes a ange angularly related to its major surfaces and received in .a correspondingly shaped slot extending longitudinally along the frame member. The deep slot receiving the other edge of the bridge plate is preferably defined between the body portion of the frame member and a separately formed member removably secured to the body portion, the bridge plate thus enabling the bridge strip to be installed after the frame members have been anchored in place, as will be described in more detail hereinafter. A resiliently compressible iiller is received in the joint between the portions of the structure elements exteriorly of the frame members and is supported by the bridge strip. By shaping the bridge strip suitably, the new expansion joints can accommodate expansion and contraction or relative shifting of the structural elements in all directions.

For a better understanding of the invention, reference may be made to the following description of an exemplary embodiment, taken in conjunction with the figures of the accompanying drawing in which:

FIG. 1 is a view in section taken transversely through a oor expansion joint having the joint ller in place;

FIG. 2 is a view in section simialr to FIG. 1 but shows an alternative form of filler element in the joint filler; and

FIG. 3 is a view in section of a modilied form of expansion joint embodying the invention.

The joint filler illustrated in FIG. 1 is installed in a floor expansion joint formed between a pair of spaced-apart concrete floor sections 10 and 12 having terrazzo surfaces 14 and 16. The floor sections '10 and 12 and the terrazzo surfaces 14 and 16 are spaced apart to provide a joint of, for example, about one inch wide to enable relative movement of respective members 10 and 12 upon expansion and contraction of the respective building sections without creating undesirable stresses. Such expansion joints are commonly used in buildings and other structures and usually include load supporting interlock features (not shown).

The expansion joint filler of the invention comprises frame members 18 and 20 secured to the corner portions of the concrete door sections and extending along the entire length of the joint. The frame members 18 and 20 both have body portions 22 and 24, respectively, which are generally U-shaped in cross section, and the open end of the U faces away from the terrazzo surfaces 14 and 16. One leg or flange 22a, 24a of each of the U-shaped body portions lies contiguous to the edges of the floor members 10 and 12 forming the joint.

The frame members 18 and 20 are rmly secured in the respective concrete floor members v10 and 12 by anchor clips 30 and 32 secured to the frame members at suitable intervals along their length. The anchor clips 30 and 32 are narrow strips of plastic or metal having angularly related segments and are attached to the frame members by clamp arrangements 34 and 36. Each of the flanges or legs 22a, 22b, 24a and 24b of the frame member body portions 22 and 24 carries two parallel ribs extending inwardly along the entire length of the frame members. One rib 38 to 41 on each leg is spaced from the end of the leg and the other rib 42 to 45 is spaced from the first rib to define a longitudinal slot 46 to 49. The ends of the anchor-clips 30 and 32 are received against the ribs 38 to 41 and are confined within the ends of the legs 22a, 22b, 24a and 24h, and screws 50 and 51 inserted through them are threaded into clamp plates 52 and 53 carried in the slots 46 to 49, the screws being turned down tightly to provide iirm frictional engagement of the anchor clips againstthe ribs 38 yto 41. Firm engagement between the anchor clips and clamp plates and the respective opposite surfaces of the ribs is facilitated by forming closely spaced, small indentations which create ridges by deforming the metal at their edges upwardly from the surface.

The anchor clips 30 and 32 and the clamp plates 52 and 53 may best be .made by forming continuous extrusions of suitable shape and then shearing them at suitable intervals, say about 1 in., to provide the desired. width. The base 22C of the body portion 22 of the frame member 18 on the right in the drawing includes a boss 60 extending along its entire length, and formed in the upper surface of the boss is a longitudinally extending, continuous threaded slot 62 (extruded thread) which is provided for receiving screws from members which may desirably be attached to the joint filler. For example, if the joint is formed adjacent a wall, then an angle corner plate or the like may be connected by screws received at intervals along the threaded groove 62. The edge of the boss 60 at the expansion joint has a slot 64 formed along the entire length of the frame member, the slot including an internal recess 66 which defines an overhang or lip 68 adjacent the upper edge of the groove 64. The slot 64 receives one edge of a bridge strip 70, as will be described in greater detail hereinafter.

Extending upwardly from the corner of the boss 60 and having its inner face lying in the plane of the edge of the oor member 12 is a ange 72. The flange 72 has a height equal to that of the terrazzo surfacing 16 on the oor member.

The frame member 20 secured to the floor member 10 shown to the left in the drawing includes a laterally extending flange 74 lying in substantially the same plane as the base 24C of the U-shaped body portion 24 and extending along the entire length of the frame member. Formed along the end of the flange 74 is a rib 76 having a continuous threaded slot 78 (extruded thread) and a pair ofv locating grooves 80 and 82 formed in its upper surface. Attached to the -rib by screws 83 received at suitable intervals in the threaded slot 78 is a generally L- 'shaped member 86. The leg 86a of the member 86 lies Y parallel to the base 24e of the body member 24 and the 'flange 74, thereby defining a longitudinal slot 90 in the frame member 20. The leg 86b of the L-shaped member 86 lies generally in the plane of the edge of the floor member and has a height equal to the depth of the terrazzo layer 14.

The bridge strip 70 referred to above extends substantially the entire length of the joint and spans the space between the floor members 10 and 12. The bridge strip 70 includes an angular edge 70a which `is received in the .recess 66 of the slot 64 and which serves to lock the bridge strip 70 onto the frame .member 18. The opposite longitudinal edge of the strip 70 includes an enlarged bead 94 of slightly lesser thickness than that of the slot 90 of the frame member 20 and is slidably 4received in the slot 90.

The upper surface of the bridge strips 70 supports a resiliently compressible insert 96 received between the ange 72 of the frame member 18 and the leg 86b of the cover member 86. In the illustrated embodiment, the insert 96 is built up of three relatively thin strips, 98, 99, and 100, each of which has a series of longitudinally extending grooves formed in its lower surface. The strips may be of any suitable material, though a low density polyvinyl chloride is preferred for its durability.

The lower iiller strip 98 includes a laterally extending ange 98a which is received in the space left in the slot between the leg 86a of the member 86 and the surface of the bridge plate 70. Additionally, the right edge of the filler strip 9S, as shown in the drawing,.is angularly related to the major surfaces and bears against a correspondingly angular portion formed at the lower edge of the ange 72. The strip is thereby held firmly in place in the joint. The upper two filler strips 99 and 100 may be fastened to the respective elements below it by la suitable adhesive. The liller strip 96 may, of course, also be a ,single compressible element. For example, an insert 96 formed with two or more internal spaced-apart longitudinally extending channels 97a and 97h of rectangular'or other suitable shapeV in section as shown in FIG. 2 may be used with equal or better results.

The frame members 18 and 20, the L-shaped member 86 and the bridge strip 70 may all be formed of a suitable plastic or of metal, such as aluminum or of bronze, by extrusion. Continuous extrusions may be cut tothe desired lengths and the anchor clips then connected at suitable intervals.

The expansion joint filler is installed by first attaching the frame members 18 and 20 to theedge forms of the lioor members 10 and 12 before they are poured. The frame members are then embedded in the oor members 10 and 12 when the concrete is poured. At a suitable time before the terrazzo flooring 14 and 16 is placed, the bridge strip 70 is installed by placing its angular end at the entrance to the groove 66 with the strip at an angle to the plane of the joint and then -sliding vthe plate into place so that its lower surface bears against the base 24o of the body portion 24 of the left frame member 20. The ller strip 96 is then laid down in the bridge strip, and, finally, the L-shaped member 86 is then put in place lfitting the small ribs into the corresponding grooves of the 'boss 76 and then fastened by screws 83 to the rib 76.

In use, the expansion of the floor members 10 and l12 which causes the ends to move toward each other also causes the bead 94 of the bridge strip 70 to slide further into the slot 90, the right edge of the strip 70 being lixedly secured to the frame member 18. Accordingly, the slot is formed to a depth .suflicient to permit the boss 94 to be received therein when the floor members 10 and 12 are at their closest approach.

The expansion joint shown in FIG. 3 is similar to the expansion joint shown in FIG. l except that the bead 101 on the bridge strip 102 is cylindrical in shape and the locking edge has a semi-cylindrical under-surface 102a. With a cylindrical bead 101 and a .semi-cylindrical surface 10251, the bridge strip 102 can tilt if one of the structures V10 or 12 rises above or subsides below the other without stressing either the lbridge strip or the frame members 103 and 104 which correspond to the frame members 18 and 20 of the joint shown in FIG. 1.

It will be observed that the finished oorjoint, as illus- Y trated in the drawing, includes only a relatively narrow exposed portion constituted by the filler strip and the respective ends of the flange 72 and the leg 86b, or Vthe corresponding portions of the frame members 103 and 104. All of the other structure of the expansion joint filler of the invention are recessed below the oor covering or in the case of a wall joint, the wall covering, such as .plaster, thereby providing a relatively attractive joint. The resilient filler strip provides little restriction upon the relative movement of the structure elements and yet effectively prevents the intrusion of dirt or water into the joint. As described above, the procedure for installation of the expansion joint filler is highly efficient and well adapted to usual construction techniques and is accomplished with a minimum of labor, thereby enabling reduction in installation costs. Moreover, the vcost of the joint filler is moderate because all of the elements, except the screws, are extruded :and require no special fabrication, except for cutting to length. The basic parts of the filler, the frame sections, are suitable for use in almost any construction joint Without modification. Various wall or iioor cover thicknesses may be provided for by varying the height of the ange 72 or 104 in the fabrication. For joints of varying widths, the bridge strips may be formed in various widths and supplied with the standard frame members, as well as varying widths and thicknesses of fillers. Similarly, the L-shaped members 86 and the corresponding portions of the frame member 103 may be made in several sizes to accommodate the particular iioor or wall covering.

It will be understood that the above-described embodiment is merely exemplary and that those skilled in the art may make many variations and modifications without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. All such modifications and variations are intended to be Within the scope of the invention -as defined in the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A construction joint filler for closing up the surface part of an elongated expansion joint between .a pair of spaced-apart structure elements having external surfaces and oppositely disposed substantially parallel wall portions forming the joint comprising first and second frame .members extending along and secured to respective structure elements, each of said frame members having a body portion spaced below the external surface of the structure elements, said body portion having a surface generally contiguous to the oppositely facing walls forming the joint, said first frame member having a removable outer Wall nearest the external surface of said structure element, and a substantially parallel inner Wall defining a longitudinally extending slot between said walls in a plane substantially parallel to the direction of relative movement of the structure elements upon expansion or contraction thereof, said second frame member having a longitudinally extending locking groove formed therein, said locking groove including angularly related portions, an elongated bridge strip having an angularly related iiange portion extending along one edge thereof and detachably received in said locking groove and an opposite longitudinal edge slidably received in said slot in said first frame member, and a resiliently compressible filler strip supported on said bridge strip between said frame members and extending outwardly to about said external surfaces of said structure elements.

2. A construction joint filler according to claim 1 wherein said frame members have longitudinally extending flanges thereon having parallel surfaces facing each other and lying generally in the planes of the respective facing walls of the structure elements and outermost ends lying flush with the external surfaces of the structure elements.

3. A construction joint filler according to Iclaim 1 wherein said bridge strip includes a longitudinally extending portion intermediate the longitudinal edges having a thickness substantially less than the Width of said slot in said first frame member, and said filler strip has a ange Ialong one edge received between said reduced thickness portion and said outer Wall of said slot, whereby said filler strip is retained in said joint.

4. A construction joint filler for closing up the surface part of an elongated expansion joint between a pair of spaced-apart structure elements having external surfaces and oppositely disposed substantially parallel wall portions forming the joint comprising first and second frame members extending along and secured to respective structure elements, each of said frame members having a body portion spaced below the external surface of the structure elements, said body portion having a surface generally contiguous to the oppositely facing walls forming the joint, said first frame member having a longitudinally extending slot formed therein in a plane substantially parallel to the direction of relative movement of the structure elements upon expansion or contraction thereof, said second frame member having a longitudinally extending locking groove formed therein, said locking groove including angularly related portions, an elongated bridge strip having one angularly related portion extending along one edge thereof and detachably received in said locking groove and an opposite longitudinal edge slidably received in said slot in said first frame member, a substantially cylindrical bead extending along said opposite edge and slidably and rockably received in said slot, and a resiliently compressible filler strip supported on said bridge strip between the oppositely facing Walls of the structure elements land adjacent the external surfaces thereof.

5. A construction joint ller for closing up the surface part of an elongated expansion joint between a pair of spaced-apart structure elements having external surfaces 'and oppositely disposed substantially parallel wall portions forming the joint comprising rst and second frame members extending along and secured to respective structure elements, each of said frame members having a body portion spaced below the external surface of the structure elements, said body portion having a surface generally contiguous to the oppositely facing walls forming the joint, said first frame member having a longitudally extending slot formed therein in a plane substantially parallel to the direction of relative movement of the structure elements upon expansion or contraction thereof, said second frame member having a longitudinally extending locking groove formed therein, said locking groove including angularly related portions, an elongated bridge strip having one fangularly related port-ion extending along one edge thereof and de-tachably received in said locking groove and an opposite longitudinal edge slidably received in said slot in said first frame member, said body portion being generally U-shaped in cross section, having -a base and spacedapart flanges along the edges of said base, the open end of said U-shaped body portion facing away ,from the surfaces of the respective structure elements, said tianges of said 4body portion having longitudinally inwardly extending ribs, a plurality of anchor clips received at longitudinally spaced-apart locations in the structure elements, clamping means securing said anchor clips to said frame members by engagement with said ribs on said U-shaped body portion, and a resiliently compressible filler strip supported on said bridge strip between the oppositely fac- 'ing walls of the structure elements and adjacent the external surfaces thereof.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,122,866 12/1914 Cordes 94-18 2,212,615 8/1940 Older 94-18 2,444,372 6/ 1948 Robertson 94-18 2,976,782 3/ 1961 Thom 94-18 JACOB L. NACKENOFF, Primary Examiner. 

1. A CONSTRUCTION JOINT FILLER FOR CLOSING UP THE SURFACE PART OF AN ELONGATED EXPANSION JOINT BETWEEN A PAIR OF SPACED-APART STRUCTURE ELEMENTS HAVING EXTERNAL SURFACES AND OPPOSITELY DISPOSED SUBSTANTIALLY PARALLEL WALL PORTIONS FORMING THE JOINT COMPRISING FIRST AND SECOND FRAME MEMBERS EXTENDING ALONG AND SECURED TO RESPECTIVE STRUCTURE ELEMENTS, EACH OF SAID FRAME MEMBERS HAVING A BODY PORTION SPACED BELOW THE EXTERNAL SURFACE OF THE STRUCTURE ELEMENTS, SAID BODY PORTION HAVING A SURFACE GENERALLY CONTIGUOUS TO THE OPPOSITELY FACING WALLS FORMING THE JOINT, SAID FIRST FRAME MEMBER HAVING A REMOVABLE OUTER WALL NEAREST THE EXTERNAL SURFACE OF SAID STRUCTURE ELEMENT, AND A SUBSTANTIALLY PARALLEL INNER WALL DEFINING A LONGITUDINALLY EXTENDING SLOT BETWEEN SAID WALLS IN A PLANE SUBSTANTIALLY PARALLEL TO THE DIRECTION OF RELATIVE MOVEMETN OF THE STRUCTURE ELEMENTS UPON EXPANSION OR CONTACTION THEREOF, SAID SECOND FRAME MEMBER HAVING A LONGITUDINALLY EXTENDING LOCKING GROOVE FORMED THEREIN, SAID LOCKING GROOVE INCLUDING ANGULARLY RELATED PORTIONS, AN ELONGATED BRIDGE STRIP HAVING AN ANGULARLY RELATED FLANGE PORTION EXTENDING ALONG ONE EDGE THEREOF AND DETACHABLY RECEIVED IN SAID LOCKING GROOVE AND AN OPPOSITE LONGITUDINAL EDGE SLIDABLY RECEIVED IN SAID SLOT IN SAID FIRST FRAME MEMBER, AND A RESILIENTLY COMPRESSIBLE FILLER STRIP SUPPORTED ON SAID BRIDGE STRIP BETWEEN SAID FRAME MEMBERS AND EXTENDING OUTWARDLY TO ABOUT SAID EXTERNAL SURFACES OF SAID STRUCTURES ELEMENTS. 